Travel kit



March 17, 1953 c, LEACHMAN 2,631,632

TRAVEL KIT Filed- July 5, 1948 INVENTOR.

CZeadzmcvZ Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAVEL KIT Maud C. Leachman, Des Moines, Iowa Application July 3, 1948, Serial No. 36,951

- 1 Claim.

1 Another and more specific object of themvention is the provision of a novel kit having side panels which are hinged along one vertical edge so that the bag can be opened with the panels swinging laterally or about the vertical axis of the hinge edge.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel kit having pockets therein so arranged that when the bag is closed and carried, or open and hung up, the pockets are positioned with their open ends facing upwardly.

A further object is the provision of a kit, as above referred to, having a novel construction whereby the kit can be easily positioned for use in small quarters such as in trains and small washrooms. 1

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a modified form of kit having novel handle means so arranged that the handle means can be utilized for carrying the'kit in closed position or for applying the kit to the person when the kit is open and ready for use. Such a feature is advantageous in small quarters where accommodations are not available.

Another object is the provision of another modified form of kit having handle means for carrying it by the hand, and in which the handle means can be arranged for slinging over the shoulder. 1

With these and other objects in view; my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my-de vice whereby the objects contemplated are attained'as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the kit in closed'position with the hinge edge directed toward the observer; 1

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the kit in openposition, illustrating the interior of the kit;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of kit, illustrating the kit in open position and exposing the outside thereof to the observer;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another modi fied form of kit; V

Figure 5 is a side View of the kit of Figure 4 shown in closed position, and with the handle means arranged for slinging over the shoulder;

and

'Figure 6 is an enlarged view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the kit includes a pair of panels l2 and M. The panels 12 and M are preferably made up' of panels apart along the hinge edges.

flexible material, such as cloth, canvas, and in some instances may be made of leather. I prefer for the bag to have appeal to the greatest number of customers and to be used as an all-round kit and therefore, cloth is found to be the preferred material.

The panels l2 and I4 determine the general shape of the kit and for purposes of convenience, the two panels are provided with what are termed hinge edges IS. Secured between the panels and along the hinge edges thereof, is a hinge strip ZGwhich is also preferably of the same material as the panels. The strip 28 has appreciable width, as illustrated, and serves to space the The strip 29 forms the hinge means on which the panels are swung to open and closed positions. It will be noted therefore that the hinge edges I6 and the hinge strip 20 are disposed vertically and positioned at one side of the kit.

Each panel l2 and I4 is provided with a lower edge 22 and an upper edge 24, both extending substantially transversely with respect to the hinge edge Hi. The upper edge 24 is illustrated as slightly arcuate for purposes of appearance in the finished kit. Each panel 12 and H3 is also provided with what is termed an edge 23, which forms a swinging edge when the panels are opened or folded together.

Secured to the panels I2 and M are spacer strips 28 and 30, respectively. The spacer strips 28 and 36 are stitched at one end to the upper end of the hinge strip 28 and follow along the perimeter edges of the respective panels across the top, down across the swinging edge, and back across the bottom. where the terminal ends are stitched to the bottom end of the hinge strip 28. The spacer strips 28 and 30 are stitched to the corresponding edge of the panels. The strips 28 and as are of course of the same material as the remainder of the kit.

The spacer strips 28 and 30 taken together, as illustrated in Figure l, are of substantially the same width, or transverse dimension, as the width of the hinge strip '25. Thus, when the panels are folded together to closed position, the spacer strips 28 and 363 form, in effect, a continuation' of the hinge strip 2% and the panels throughout their entire area are spaced apart the desired thickness of the kit.

The meeting edges of the spacer strips Ztl-an'd 30 are provided with cooperating slide fastener elements 32 and 34, respectively, of a type well known. A slider 36 is provided in the usual manner for co-operation with the slide fastener I) elements 32 and 34 and fastening them together. The slide fastener elements extend throughout the perimetric length of the spacer strips and their ends terminate adjacent the respective ends of the hinge strip 20. When the kit is folded together, as illustrated in Figure 1, the slider 36 is slid along the slide fastener elements and the kit is closed throughout.

Loop handles 33 and 40 are secured to the respective panels l2 and M. The loop handles 38 and 49 are also of flexible material, such as cloth, and each comprises a pair of downwardly extending legs 42 stitched to the outer surfaces of the panels. For the sake of appearance and for the sake of imparting additional strength to the panels, the legs 42 are preferably extended down to the lower edge of the panels. It will be observed that the loop portions of the handles 38 and 40 extend upwardly above the upper edges of the panels.

The inner surface of the panels are provided with a plurality of pockets for carrying articles. The panel 52 is provided with a lower row of pockets it which are disposed horizontally and another row of pockets 45 also disposed horizontally, the row 46 being spaced vertically above the other row. The pockets 44 and 45 have substantial dimension transversely of the plane of the panel and are adapted for containing articles 48, such as boxes and jars. The pocket 44 at the left of its row may, for example, be employed for containing a toothbrush, the pocket being narrow and of considerable depth. It will be noted that the pockets 44 and 46 have their open sides facing upwardly, or toward the upper edge of the kit.

The inner surface of the other panel I4 is provided with a plurality of relatively flat pockets, formed by pieces of material 50, 52 and 54. Preferably, the piece of material 50, as illustrated in Figure 2, extends substantially the full width and height of the panel and is stitched into the panel in the formation thereof, if desired, such as between the panel proper and the spacer strip 30. The piece 50 thereby forms a pocket extending substantially the full width and height of the panel. The piece 52 is stitched at its ends to the panel, and at the center is stitched to .the piece 513, as indicated by the stitching 56. The piece 52 terminates short of the bottom of the panel, where it is also stitched to the piece 56, as indicated at 58. The piece 52 thereby forms laterally spaced pockets of a depth less than the pocket formed by the piece 50. The piece 54 is also stitched to the ends and bottom of the panel and in this case, also, the piece may be stitched between th pan l prop r n the spacer strip.

it will be noted that the pieces of material 54, 52 and E; overlap one another vertically although they terminate at different heights.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form ofkit. In this case, the kit, with the exception of the handles, is constructed in the same manner as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In the modified form of Figure 3, handle means 60 and 62 replace the handle means 38 and 40. Each handle.

means 60 and 62 is preferably stitched to the respective panel adjacent the swingingv edge of the latter. The other end of each handle means is provided with snap fastener elements. With respect to the handle 60, a snap fastener element E4 is secured to the handle and its counterpart 5% is secured to the panel l2 adjacent the hinge edge thereof. On the handle 52 a. snap fastener element 68 is provided and its counterpart 10 is secured on the panel [4 adjacent the hinge edge of the latter. The various snap elements are oppositely arranged so that the snap elements 64 and 68 are opposite and counterparts. Thus, the ends of the handles and 62 can be detached from the panels and the kit worn on the person of the user by extending the handles around the body and snapping the elements 64 and 68 together. The kit can be worn on the person with the pockets on the interior thereof exposed outwardly and arranged so that the articles therein can be readily removed.

In the kit illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the panels 12 and I4 may be constructed and secured together as in the previous forms. A handle member 12 is stitched t the panel I2 adjacent the swinging end thereof. The upper end of the handle (2 is provided with female snap fastener elements 14 on the inner surface of the handle. The snap element '14 are adapted to cooperate with male snap elements 16 on the panel l2 adjacent the hinge edge of the latter. The handle 12 is also provided with female snap elements '58 on its outer surface.

Another handle element 80 is stitched to the panel l4 adjacent the hinge edge of the latter. Male snap elements 82 are secured to the inner side of the handle 89 and these snap elements are adapted to cooperate with female snap elements 34 on the panel l4 adjacent the swinging edge of the latter.

When the respective 'snap'elements M, 15 and 32, 8A are snapped, the handle elements 12 and fit form loop handles such as illustrated in the kit of Figures 1 and 2.

When the handle elements 12 and 80 are un snapped from the panels,.the snap elements 82 are adapted to cooperate with the snap elements 18 on the outer side of the handle element 72, to form a long single loop 86 illustrated in Figure 5, which can be slung over the shoulder. The provision of the snap elements 18 on the outer side of the handle element 52 enables the loop to be formed without twisting the handle elements. The final loop 86 of Figure 5 thus has one end secured to each end of the closed kit, 1. e., the ends are spaced apart so that the kit will be balanced.

The snap elements 15 and 84 are covered with strips or pockets 88 serving to cover the snap elements when they are not in use. 83 may be detached from the panels at the bottom, if desired, to enable the user to grasp the handle elements for moving the respective snap elements into register.

In each of the embodiments illustrated, the kit can be carried by the loop handles when the kit is closed. In small quarters, where space is at a minimum and accommodations are not readily available for positioning the kit for use, the kit can be opened and turned with the panels back to back and hung on a doorknob or hook with either of sides and pockets facing the user. If space is available, the kit may be opened flat and laid on a table or ledge. .The flat pockets on the panel l4 may be utilized for small articles,

' such as handkerchiefs.

I believe it is entirely new to provide a kit, as 7 above described, having as the main feature thereof, a vertically disposed hinge edge at one side and the kit opening on the other three sides so that the kit can be opened in the same rela- The stripsof course, that I do not Wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the claims appended hereto to cover any such modifications or substitutions of equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention without sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim:

A kit of the character disclosed having a pair of congruent panels of cloth-like material provided with carrying handles and pockets, said kit having a normal carrying position in which said panels are disposed in vertical position, said panels having vertical hinge edges at one side thereof, a hinge strip of cloth-like material securing said panels together at said hinge edges thereof and spacing the panels apart, each of said panels having an upper edge and a lower edge extending horizontally from said hinge strip and having a vertical swing edge opposite said hinge strip, spacer strips of cloth-like material on each panel along said upper, lower and swing edges thereof, said handles being individually attached to said panels with the hand engageable portions thereof extending upwardly above said upper edges of said panels to serve together as a single carrying handle, said pockets opening toward said upper edges, said panels, due to the flexibility of said cloth-like hinge strip, being swingable relatively to each other to open and closed positions and also into back-to-back relation in which their outer surfaces engage each other whereupon said handles serve together to suspend said kit with said pockets accessible when it is so suspended, and intercooperating fastener elements along said spacer and swing strips.

MAUD C. LEACHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

